Electrical signal apparatus.



W. KBPLER.

ELECTRICAL SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLIGATIO FILED JUNE ze, 1913.

1,085,433. Patented Jan. 27, im

WALTER KEPLER, OF ALLENVILLEILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL SQNAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, r1914.

Application tiled .Tune 23, 1913. Serial No. 775,319.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WALTER KEPLER, a citizen of the United States, residing .at Allenville, in the county of Moultrie and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Signal Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to improvements in electrical signal apparatus, and particularly to such as are adapted for controlling successively the circuits of a series of signals.

The object in view is the provision of sim ple and eilicient means for enabling an operator to actuate any one of a series of signals by the operation of a single button or switch.

Vith this and further objects in view, as will hereinafter become apparent, the inven tion comprises a base, a shiftablecasing sustained thereby, a common return contact for the casing, a series of insulated contacts carried by the base, a button movable through the casing, and a Contact spring engaged by the button and adapted to be depressed thereby into engagement with any of said contacts.

The invention comprises certain other novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying draWingQ-Figure` l is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough, parts being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base with the casing removed. Fig. 4 is a diagrammat-ic view showing the arrangement of circuits and signals coperating with the contact plates.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a base of any suitable material, preferably insulating, and countcrsunk within or otherwise secured to the base are contact plates 2, 2 connected by line wires 3 to signals 4, a line wire 3 being provided for each Contact 2 and extending to its respective signal 4. The several signals 4 have 'a common return wire 5 which extends to the source of electrical energy 6 and thence in the` form of a conductor 5 to a common return contact spring 7. A button casing 8 is disposed above and rests upon the base 1 and is adapted to be retained in position by the flange 9 overhanging the periphery of the casing and extending from the base l. The casing 8 is formed ofconductive material and a conductor spring 10 is fixed to the inside of the casing 8 and extends across the same in position for having its free end contact with any one of the contact plates 2 when the sprino` is depressed as by a button 11 which extends centrally through the casing 8 and is normally supported in an elevated or outstanding position by the spring tension of spring 10.

The Casin 8 is free to revolve within the flange 9 an is engaged by the common return contact spring 7 so that in operation the casing 8 is revolved to a position with the free end'of spring 10 overhanging the desired contact plate 2, that is, the contact plate electrically connected with the particular signal 4 which is to be actuated, and the operator thereupon depresses the button 11, whereby the circuit is closed through the given signal 4 and may be traced as follows: from the source of supply 6 through conductor 5', spring 7, casing 8, spring 10, the given contact piece 2, its connected conductor 3the respective signal 4 and the common return 5 to the source of supply 6.

Any of various means may be employed for indicating the relative location of the spring l0 within the casing 1 with respect to the several contact pieces 2, as for instance the casing 8 may be provided with a pointer 12 indicating the location of the free end of the spring 10,' while the flange 9 may be provided with digits, indicated at 13, 13, corresponding to the several contact pieces 2 so that when any particular signal is sought the casing 8 is merely revolved to bring the aointer 12 in position for pointing to t-he digit- 13 corresponding with the Contact piece of the desired signal. Thereupon the operator dcpresses the button l1 and the signal is accordingly operated.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a signal device, the combination of a base having a peripheral flange, a casing mounted on the base and disposed for being overhung by the flange, the casing being revoiubly mounted on the base, contact pieces arranged in a circuit and carried by the base, a contact spring carried by the casing above the contact pieces, and means extending through the casing and adapted to be depressed for depressing theV spring into Contact with the particular Contact piece beneath the spzn 2. In a signa1gdevce,the combination of a base, a casing engaging the same, a common return contac; for the casing, the casing being movably mounted on the base and being' formed of conductor material7 a Contact spring carried by the casing and tensioned to normally be spaced above the base, contact pieces carried by the base and insulated from? the easing and Contact spring, "lil-1e easlng being adapted to be moved odisposing the sprmg above the various Contact pieces, and means for depessing the sp'ng into Contact with "che Contact pieces.

In `testimony whereof l u'lx my signaler@ in presence of awo Witnesses.

WALTER KEPLE. Witnesses Mmmm P. CASE, Mrs. L. C. LINDENBERGER.

opiel of this pltent may ha obtained im' ive ments each, by adremng; eine Gommiuioncr n! ntentl,

Washington, D C. 

